DEXTER -- After a 1-3 start to last year's campaign, the Dexter Bearcats pulled off a five-game win streak that gave them a chance to claim the Class 3 District 1 title against rival New Madrid County Central in the last regular season game of the year.

Unfortunately for Dexter, it didn't happen.

Although they did manage to play in the district-clinching game, head coach Aaron Pixley thinks that starting the season off in a slow manner is something that is becoming more and more common for the Bearcats.

"Seems like that's kind of a broken record around here," Pixley said. "We get off to slow starts and then we kind of pick it up. It would be nice to get off to a fast start.

"We just don't play anybody that's an easy out for us," he added. "It's probably more important for us to play well and play hard early. We try to win every game, don't get me wrong, but it s more important for us to be physical, mentally tough and play hard early because that sets us up down the road."

And with a new season upon them, the Bearcats are looking to their more experienced players to hopefully get them past that hump.

"These guys have a chance to be competitive but, you never know," Pixley said. "We have to play hard and we have to constantly lift weights and try to get stronger throughout the season. We have some experience coming back and we have to rely on those guys to lead and help lift those young guys up."

One of the more experienced players that Pixley will be counting on is their returning quarterback Ben Mills.

Mills, a 5-9, 172 pound junior, emerged as one of the best passers in the area last season throwing for 1,409 yards with 18 touchdowns. He was also a very accurate passer completing 64 percent (115-of-177) of his passes.

"He's going to do a fine job," Pixley said of his starting quarterback. "We just have to have another group step up and catch the football. And, obviously, we have to protect him. We have to find kids that can make plays for you and hopefully we'll do that."

It may get tougher for Mills this year, though, as he will not have his main target on the field with him in Bobby Rawson.

Finishing with more catches than anyone in the SEMO Conference last year with 45, Rawson ended up with 678 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns to lead the Bearcats threw the air.

Another receiver that Mills will be without is tight end Eric Windham.

Windham finished tied for second in the SEMO Conference with 37 catches for 424 yards and four touchdowns.

Juniors Gary Summers (6-0, 156) and Ryan Windham (6-3, 160) are going to try and fill the Bearcats receiving void.

As for the ground game, Pixley will have senior Nick Hessling (5-9, 178) returning for him in the backfield. As a junior, Hessling rushed for 1,060 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.

"Nick's (Hessling) a good football player," said Pixley. "Whenever you graduate, you got to stick someone else in there and Nick came in there last year and did a great job for us. He's a year older and he's a year stronger and we expect more out of him this year.

Pixley added that he expecting senior Seth McBride (6-0, 187) to also have a lot of carries for Dexter as well.

"He's going to be a great football player for us," Pixley said. "He didn't play last year but he's back this year, and we expect him to do some things for us."

As potent as the passing and running games have been, none of that could be possible without the play of the offensive line. Dexter has three of the five starters back on the line with another who played a few games last year.

"Really, you could say we have four starters back," Pixley said about the offensive line. "They should be better. They have more experience but we just have to be a little more mentally tough at that position. Hopefully, they will."

Seniors Evan Jackson (6-5 285), Tim Moore (6-4, 275), Austin Mace (6-0, 225) and Cody Hindman (5-11, 210) will anchor the line while junior Jacob Robertson (5-8, 191) looks to step in at the center position.

The Bearcats have 17 seniors on the roster this year, which is something that they will be looking to utilize in the leadership roles.

"There's some senior leadership there," said Pixley. "All they need to do is lead. That's something we try to work on everyday. Be vocal, help these young kids out. Make sure they know they're a part of something. Without the young guys, our older guys can't succeed so, they have to be great leaders."

The only weakness that Dexter could potentially be dealing with is lack of speed on both sides of the ball. With teams such as NMCC and Kennett within the district, who both have speed to burn, the Bearcats will have to rely on the fundamentals.

"We have one of the fastest conferences in the state probably," Pixley said. "Anytime we play speed, it really creates a huge problem for us. We're going to have to be physical and mentally tough to win football games this year."